Cable grip



Feb. 18, 1930. E. E. KELLEMS CABLE GRI P Filed Dec. 10, 1927 //v YEN rule 8) .v MY

Patented Feb. 18, 1930 PATENT GFFIC' EDGAR E. KELLEMS,.0F JACKSON HEIGHTS, NEW YORK CABLE GRIP Application filed December 10, 1927.

provided with means adapted to be connected to a marline or other draft device whereby the endwise pull upon said draft device will automatically close the band upon the cable to frictionally lock the same thereto for drawing the cable in the direction of pull.

The main object is to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive device of this character which may be slipped over the end or intermediate portion of the cable and,

when power is applied thereto for drawing it in one direction, to tighten upon the cable for drawing said cable in the same direction and, when the pull upon the device is released, to automatically open so that it may 2 be moved endwise along the cable for a fresh grip as may be required in drawing the cable endwise in stages through the underground or other conduits or supports.

One of the specific objects is to provide the tively connected to the meeting edges of the split tube in such manner that when rocked in one direction it will automatically contract the tube circumferentially, and when rocked in the opposite direction will permit the tube to automatically open under its own spring tension.

- Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings I Figure 1 is perspective view of a closed cable grip embodying the various features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same taken in a plane of line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the same grip opened to receive the intermediate portlon of a cable, not shown.

cable grip with a suitable draft lever opera- Serial No. 289,144.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view partly in top plan taken in the plane of line 4-4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane of line 5-5, Figure 1, except that a portion of the tubular plate is broken away.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 6-6, Figure 1.

As illustrated, this device-comprises a tubular plate or band l of relatively thin spring metal, split longitudinally through one side from end to end, and tensioned to automatically open from its closed position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to an open position as shown in Figure 3 to permit it to be placed over and upon either end of the intermediate portion of a cable not shown.

The normal diameter of the tubular plate 1- when closed, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is suficient to permit it to be placed over and upon the end of a cable without opening it, after which it may be contracted circumferentially by suitable means actuated by a marline or other draft device.

The opposite longitudinal edges of the tubular band 1 are provided with outturned return flanges -2 and 2 looped around suitable reinforcing bars 3 and 3 and inserted in lengthwise slots 4 and 1 in opposite lengthwise clamping plates 5 and 5.

The bar 3 and adjacent edge of the band 1 are secured in the corresponding slot 4. by means of bolts 6, Figure 2, or equivalent fastening means to form one of the overlapping edges of the band.

The other bar 3, together with the adj acent edge of the band l, are secured in the groove by rivets 6 or equivalent fastening means, as shown in Figure 2, to form the other overlapping edge of the band.

The opposite ends of the band l are preferably overturned outwardly upon the adjacent portion of the main body for reinforcing purposes, and also to adu additional resiliency to the band and at the same time to afford more or ess rounded end edges to lUJ avoid cutting or other damage to the cable when used to draw the cable endwise.

The clamping bar 5 is of a greater cross sectional area and therefore stiffer than the clamping bar 5 and is provided with a concave inner face 7- conforming approximately to the radius of the tubular band -1- when closed upon a cable and endwise the periphery of the cable when closed thereon.

The upper surface of the bar -5 is substantially flat and approximately tangential to the circumference of the band 1- when the latter is closed.

The other bar 5 is substantially flat and adapted to overlap on the flat upper surface of the bar 5 in transversely sliding relation tnereto and is provided with a transversely elongated slot 9 for receiving a stud 10 which is screwed or otherwise socured in a socket 11- in the bar 5 and extends upwardly through the slot 9 and above the plate 5 for a purpose presently described.

The bars -5 and 5 are substantially the same length as the band 1- which may be of any desired length convenient for handling and may also be of any desired circumferential .width according to the size of the cable to which it is to be applied with suiticient clearance when released to permit it to be readily moved along upon the cable.

Suitable means is provided for attachment to a marline or other draft device by which the grip may be closed upon the work and both the grip and work pulled endwise in one and the same direction when desired, and for this purpose a draft lever -12 is pivoted to a stud 13 on the bar -5 at one side of the stud 10- and is provided with an opening 14' for receiving the stud -l0 which is provided with a threaded upper end engaged by a thumb nut 15 or equivalent device for holding the lever 12 and band -1- including the bars 5 and 5 in different positions of adjustment.

The pivotal pin 13 is parallel with the stud 10 when the plates 5 and 5- are brought into engagement with each other and held in that position by the lever 12 and clamping nut 15 so that the rocking of the lever -12 in one direction about the axis of its pivotal pin 13 will contract the band -1 to frictionally engage the work within the band, while the movement of the lever in the opposite direction will expand the band to free it from frictional engagement with the work and thus permit the entire grip to be moved lengthwise of and upon the cable.

The outer end of the lever 12 is provided with a hook or a loop 16 for attachment to a suitable marline or other draft device, not shown, but by which, when moved in one direction, will operate the lever in the same direction as indicated by arrow X, Fig ure 1, to close the band -1 upon the work or, as the pull upon the draft cable is released the spring tension of the band 1 will automatically expand the same thereby rocking the lever in the opposite direction.

The transverse contraction and expansion of the band is therefore entirely automatic in that the contraction is affected by the pull upon the free end of the lever in the direction indicated by arrow X, Figure 1, while the expansion is affected by the inherent spring tension of the band which, as previously explained, is tensioned to open when the pull upon the lever -12- is released.

WVhen the device is contractd to grip the work therein it may be locked in that position against the action of the spring band by simply tightening the thumb nut 15.

\Vhen it is possible to place the device over and upon the end of a cable or other work to be drawn endwise the nut 15 may be loosened to permit the opening of the bands by its own spring tension until limited by the outer end wall of the slot V19 at which time the band will be expanded a suflicient amount to allow it to be placed over and upon the end of work.

On the other hand, if it is desired to place the device over and upon the intermediate portion of a cable or other work the nut -15 may be removed from the stud -10 thus permitting the removal of the lever 12 from said stud and also from the pivotal pin 13, whereupon the bar 5 with the pivotal pin 13 thereon may be sprung over the upper end of the stud 10 to disengage it therefrom and thus permit the spring band 1 to open under its own tension to the position shown in Figure 3, or suficiently to allow the device over and upon the intermediate portion of the cable.

When the device has been opened in the manner describedand again closed upon the work, the lever '12' and nut 15 may be replaced to hold the bars 5' and 5 in overlapping sliding relation, the device being then ready for use in drawing the cable through the underground conduit or other support by simply attaching the marline or other draft device to the outer end of the lever 12.

That is, pulling on the lever in the direction indicated by arrow X, Figure 1, will close the band upon the work with suflicient firmness to cause the grip and work therein to be drawn endwise the required distance, it being understood that the gripping force of the band upon the work is directly proportionate to the power applied to the lever 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

On the other hand the release of the power applied to the lever in said direction allows the band 1 to open or expand circumferentially under its own tension and to incidentally return the lever in the opposite direction.

It will be noted that the lever 12 is mounted upon the upper plate 5' substantially midway between its end, and that its connection with the pivotal pin 13 and stud -10 is mainly at one side of the axis of the tubular band when the latter is closed, while the free end of the lever extends laterally beyond the opposite side of the axis so that the power applied to the lever for operating the same will be approximately in a direction parallel with and directly over the axis of the tubular band 1.

This gripping device is generally used for gripping those portions of the cable which are readily accessible outside of the conduits through which the cable is adapted to be drawn as for example, in the manholes or above ground where it is necessary to move the cable endwise in successive stages or repeated pulls upon the draftlever of the gripping device.

That is, the gripping device per se is not adapted to be drawn through the conduit or overhead support, but is to be used more particularly in the manholes to which the cables lead for taking up the slack of the cables preparatory to making suitable connections of the'wires therein with the wires of other cables entering the same manhole.

It is evident, however, that the same gripping device may be used for drawing pipes and analogous objects endwise in successive stages by effecting the alternate gripping and releasing of said device upon the object by In witness whereof I have hereunto set myhand this 25th day of November, 1927.

EDGAR E. KELLEMS.

the alternate tightening andslackening of the marline or other draft device.

It is also obvious that when the lever 12- is released by the slackening of the marline connected thereto it may be operated by hand to positively expand and release its grip upon the object.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A cable grip comprising a sheet metal band divided longitudinally through one side, rigid bars secured to and projecting beyond the meeting edges of the band, and means operatively connected to the bars at opposite sides of the division and movable in reverse directions for expanding and contracting the band transversely of the division.

2. A cable grip comprising a sheet metal band divided longitudinally through one side, and means operatively connected to the band at opposite sides of the division and movable in reverse directions for expanding and contracting the band transversely of the division, and means for holding the movable means in any position of adjustment.

3. A cable grip comprising a sheet metal band divided longitudinally through one side and having its adjacent edges in overlapping relation when adjusted for use, a lever pivoted to one of said edges and opera- 

